Susan Lana

Biography of Investigator:
M.S., Clinical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 1997
Residency, Medical Oncology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 1997
Internship, Small Animal Medicine/Surgery, Texas A&M University, 1994
DVM, Veterinary Medicine, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 1993
B.S., Medical Technology, University of Iowa, Iowa City Iowa, 1986

Professional Experience and Employment:
1993 – 1994    Internship, Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine Texas A&M University, College Station, TX

1994 – 1997    Resident, Oncology, College of Veterinary Medicine Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO.

1997 – 1999    Medical Oncology Post Doctoral Fellow, College of Veterinary Medicine Colorado State University,    Fort Collins, CO.

1999 – 2006    Assistant Professor –Oncology, College of Veterinary Medicine Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO.

2006 - present  Associate Professor with tenure- Oncology, College of Veterinary Medicine Colorado State University, Ft Collins, CO.

Board Certification:
Diplomate, Oncology, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 1997

Classes Taught/Currently Teaching:

• VM722 Veterinary Pharmacology
• VM753 Clinical Sciences IV
• VM786 AV Junior practicum-fall and spring
• VM796F Small animal diagnostic problems

Research Focus:
To support the Cancer Supercluster efforts, two core programs currently functioning within the ACC will be enlisted. These are the tumor archiving core and the clinical trials core. They are described below.

Tissue archiving core:
The tissue archiving program at the CSU Animal Cancer Center (ACC) was formalized in September 2003 and has been actively collecting patient samples since. Client consent is obtained from every new patient and IACUC approval has been obtained for sample collection and is renewed yearly. For each patient that undergoes a surgical procedure or biopsy, the following samples are obtained when available: serum, plasma, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) urine, tumor, and normal stromal samples and appropriately processed (frozen, OCT, RNALater). A tissue block is also maintained for use as by the tissue archive lab. In order to accurately catalogue all samples, a database has been developed that is specific to the archiving effort. Patient information is input, samples are anonymized and tracked for use. Currently, over 800 patient sample sets exist in the archive. In addition to general tumor archiving, trial specific processing is also done through the tissue archiving core. A full time research associate is dedicated to the tissue archiving core and activities include database entry, patient identification, interaction with surgery technical staff, and tissue and fluid processing. A half-time administrative professional also devotes the majority of her time to the current tumor archiving effort. Duties include database construction and management; sample storage, retrieval, and shipping, as well as responding to inquires about tissue availability from investigators outside of and within the ACC.

Storage for tissues and other specimens is provided by the Biophile freezer system. This is a fully automated, self contained, -80 degree robotic storage system. Individual bar-coded racks containing sample vials enter the system through an automated airlock that prevents frost build up and negates the need to open the door of the unit. Racks are stored and retrieved according to bar code within 20 seconds of request. Security measures and pass codes restrict sample access.

Clinical trials core:
The Clinical Oncology Service at the ACC is the busiest in the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, accounting for approximately 25% of the total small animal case load.  Approximately 80- 90 cases are seen each week (new and recheck visits) with ~2800 new cases and 8200 repeat visits seen in the 30 months preceding July 1st 2006. These patients are the recruitment base for clinical trials within the ACC which has extensive experience with many types of preclinical and clinical trials. Competitive and non competitive funding has come from the NIH, American Cancer Society, Morris Animal Foundation, American Kennel Club/Canine Health Foundation, pharmaceutical industry, the private sector and from within Colorado State University. Personnel within the ACC have led as well as participated in several multi-institutional trials. The ACC has participated in preclinical trials for human as well as preclinical and clinical trials for veterinary drug applications to the FDA. Recruitment and case accrual is achieved through communication with the referring veterinarian base and via our web site. There are currently eight funded clinical trials ongoing at the ACC for a variety of tumor types.

Due to the volume and complexity of trials performed through the Clinical Trials Core, a Protocol Team has been assembled to ensure client and protocol compliance, appropriate biological sampling and processing, and data management and compilation. Currently the team consists of a dedicated protocol coordinator and clinical trials intern, and a clinical trials resident who rotates through this core. Once a case has entered a clinical trial, the Protocol Team handles all aspects of patient care and coordinates procedures with the medical oncology resident overseeing medical aspects of the case under the supervision of the attending medical oncology faculty and the study PI. The protocol coordinator and clinical trials intern both hold DVM degrees and are full time positions.

The tissue archiving and clinical trials cores are uniquely poised to immediately integrate into the three clusters; cancer biology, musculoskeletal, and experimental therapeutics. This is illustrated in the following example. Tumor tissue samples are collected from osteosarcoma patients through the tissue archiving core. The cancer biology cluster uses these tissues to discover new biologic pathways and drugable targets for this fatal disease. The experimental therapeutics cluster develops compounds for testing in a pre clinical and clinical setting. These trials are done through the clinical trials core and samples from these patients are collected in order to determine appropriate pharmacodymnamic endpoints likely assayed by the cancer biology and experimental therapeutics clusters. 

Unique educational opportunities also exist through the clinical trials core for Cancer Biology Degree candidates to get first hand involvement in trials for a better understanding of how the process works, a true from “the bench to the bedside” approach.

Tissue Archiving Core personnel/technicians:
Dr. Susan Lana, DVM, MS - Director
Kristin Gunerund, - Research Associate Tumor Archiving
Irene Mok, BA - Research Associate

Clinical Trials Core personnel:
Dr. Susan Lana, DVM, MS - Director
Dr. Kelly Carlsten, DVM - Protocol Coordinator
Dr. Melanie Momont, DVM - Protocol Intern
Rotating resident coverage provided by the medical oncology residents

Current Work/Projects:
Provoking Anti Tumor Immune Response with FAS-ligind
Institutional Principle Investigator   
Source: NIH SBIR, 2007
Total Cost: $372,547 for 2 years

CCOGC Tissue Collection Proposal
Principle Investigator
Source: Canine Comparative Oncology Genomics Consortium 2007
Total Cost: $196,891 over 3 years

Comparative Analysis of Survivin Expression in Naïve and Relapsed Canine Lymphoma
Principle Investigator
Source: College Research Council 2007
Total Cost: $8000

Evaluation of the mTOR Inhibitor Rapamycin in Dogs with Osteosarcoma
Institutional PI via Comparative Oncology Trials Consortium (COTC) 2007
Source: Morris Animal Foundation
Total Cost: $21,153

Gene Expression Profiling of Canine T cell CLL; Development of Prognostic Markers
Co Principle Investigator
Source: ACVIM Foundation
Total cost: $22,557 2 years 2007

Quantitative Proteomic Profiling of Canine Mast Cell Tumors Using Isobaric Peptide Labeling (iTRAQ) and Mass Spectroscopy
Principle Investigator
Source: College Research Council
Total Cost: $9000

Publications:
Williams M, Avery AC, Lana SE, Hillers KM, Bachand AM, Avery PA. Lymphoproliferative disease characterized by lymphocytosis: Immunophenotypic markers of prognosis. J Vet Intern Med. 2008;22:596-601.

Rebhun RC, Lana SE, Charles JB, Ehrhart EJ, Thamm DH. Comparative analysis of Survivin in Naive and Relapsed Canine Lymphoma. J Vet Intern Med. 2008;22:989-995.

Petty JC, Lana SE, Thamm DH, Charles JB, Bachand AM, Bush JM, Ehrhart EJ. Glucose transporter 1 (GLUT-1) Expression in Canine Osteosarcoma. Veterinary and Comparative Oncology. Accepted/in press 2008.

Kow K, Thamm DH, Terry J, Bailey S, Withrow SJ, Lana SE. Impact of telomerase status on canine osteosarcoma patients. J Vet Intern Med. Accepted/in press 2008.

Camps-Palau MA, Leibman NF, Elmslie R, Lana SE, Plaza S, McKnight JA, Risbon R, Bergman PJ. Treatment of canine mast cell tumours with vinblastine, cyclophosphamide and prednisone: 35 cases (1997-2004). Veterinary and Comparative Oncology. 2007 Sep;5(3):156-67.

Gaines PJ, Powell TD, Walmsley SJ, Estredge KL, Wisnewski N, Stinchcomb DT, Withrow SJ, Lana SE. Serum Biomarker Discovery For Canine B-Cell Lymphoma Using SELDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry. Am J Vet Res. 2007;68:405-410.

Lana SE, U’ren L, Plaza S, Elmslie R, Gustafson D, Dow S. Comparison of continuous low dose oral chemotherapy with conventional doxorubicin chemotherapy for adjuvant therapy of hemangiosarcoma in dogs. J Vet Intern Med 2007; 21(4):764-769.

Kraft SM, Randall E, Wilhelm M, Lana SE. Development of a whole body MR imaging protocol in normal dogs and canine cancer patients. Veterinary Radiology and Ultrasound. 2007;48:212-220.

Hillers KR, Lana SE, Fuller CR, LaRue SM. Can palliative radiation therapy induce a tumor response in dogs with non-splenic hemangiosarcoma? J Am Anim Hosp Assoc. 2007;43:187-192.

Kow K, Bailey SM, Williams ES, Withrow SJ, Lana SE. Telomerase Activity In Canine Osteosarcoma Veterinary and Comparative Oncology. 2006;4:184-187.

Modiano JF, Breen M, Lana SE, Ehrhart N, Fosmire SP, Thomas R, Jubala CM, Lamerato AR, Ehrhart EJ, Schaack J, Duke RC, Cutter GC, Bellgrau D. Naturally occurring translational models for development of cancer gene therapy. Gene Ther Mol Biol. 2006;10:31-40.

Lana SE, Plaza SS, Hampe K, Burnett RC, Avery AC. Diagnosis of mediastinal masses in dogs by flow cytometry. J Vet Intern Med. 2006;20:1161-1165.

Lana SE, Kogan L, Crump KA, Graham GT, Robinson N. The use of complementary and alternative medicines in veterinary cancer patients. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc. Sept. 2006;42:361-365.

Walter CU, Biller BJ, Lana SE, Bachand AM, Dow SW. Evaluation of the effects of chemotherapy on immune responses in dogs with cancer. J Vet Intern Med. 2006;20(2):342-347.

Mullins MN, Dernell WS, Withrow SJ, Ehrhart EJ, Thamm DH, Lana SE. The syndrome of multiple cutaneous mast cell tumors: 54 cases (1998-2004). J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2006;228(1):91-95.

Lana SE, Jackson TL, Burnett RC, Morley P, Avery AC. The utility of PCR for analysis of antigen receptor rearrangement in staging and predicting prognosis in dogs with lymphoma. J Vet Intern Med. 2006;20(2):329-334.

Williams LE, Rassnick KM, Powers HT, Lana SE, Morrison-Collister KE, Hansen K, Johnson JL. CCNU in the treatment of canine epitheliotropic lymphoma. J Vet Intern Med. 2006;20 (1): 136-143.

Selting KA, Ogilvie GK, Gustafson DL, Long ME, Lana SE, Walton JA, Hansen RS, Laible I, Fettman MJ. Pharnacokinetics of doxorubicin in dogs with spontaneously occurring lymphoma with or without n-3 fatty acid supplementation to the diet: A double blind, randomized, placebo controlled study. Am J Vet Res. 2006;67(1):145-151.

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